Beach‐Profile Measurement, Theory and Analysis: Practical Guidance and Applied Case Studies

Whilst beach-profile surveying is a relatively long-established and widely utilised shoreline monitoring technique, a considerable gap exists between theoretical and practical requirements from, and uses of, beach-profile data. The paper bridges this gap by providing a summary of the key elements of beach-profile measurement, theory and analysis. The benefits of applying these elements to practical coastal management are given in three case studies. The first case study presents results from beach-profile analysis on a regional scale in East Anglia. The second case study applies both analytical and theoretical techniques to investigate erosional problems along a coastal bay in Jersey. The third case study assesses the performance of two major sand-replenishment schemes in Poole Bay (on the south coast of England) based upon beach-profile volumetric analyses. Most importantly, the paper demonstrates that beach-profile measurement, theory and analysis can provide information of practical use in coastal management.